1 86 THE GRANGER MOVEMENT 



Another bill for " An act in relation to Railroads " was passed 

 at the session of the legislature in 1874 by votes of 19 to 6 and 

 46 to 1 6. This measure prohibited unreasonable discrimination; 

 the consolidation of parallel or competing roads; and the issuance 

 of free passes to state officers, judges, and members of the 

 legislature. 1 An attempt was made by the Assembly to make a 

 violation of the pro rata principle prima facie evidence of unjust 

 discrimination, but this was rejected by the Senate. 2 These 

 two acts, the Potter law and the act, " in relation to Railroads " 

 generally known as the " anti-pass law," constitute the Granger 

 legislation of the state of Wisconsin. 3 



As in the other states, the Granger element of Wisconsin was 

 to find that the enactment of radical legislation was easier than 

 its enforcement. The first step to be taken was the appointment 

 of a board of railway commissioners. For advice upon this 

 subject the governor turned to those who appeared to be pri- 

 marily responsible for the agitation which had produced the law, 

 the Patrons of Husbandry. On March 17, the executive com- 

 mittee of the state grange met at Madison at the request of 

 the governor, and joined with a committee chosen by Patrons 

 who had been members of the legislature in recommending the 

 appointment of J. H. Osborn of Oshkosh, chairman of the execu- 

 tive committee of the state grange, for railroad commissioner 

 for three years, and of Philo Belden for one year. 4 After con- 

 siderable delay the governor finally appointed Mr. Osborn as 

 chairman of the board with John W. Hoyt and George H. Paul 

 as the other members. 5 Mr. Hoyt was connected with the State 

 Agricultural Society. Mr. Paul was supposed to represent 

 the commercial interests of the state, but was repudiated by 

 the Milwaukee Journal of Commerce* 



1 Laws, 1874, ch. cccxli; Railroad Commission, Reports, ii. appendix A, 7. 



2 For the legislative history of this measure, see Assembly Journal, 1874, pp. 53 ,. 

 57, 344, 716-721, 783; Senate Journal, 1874, pp. 23, 26, 93, 153, 271, 495~497, 536, 

 573, 640. 



3 The law increasing the tax on gross earnings of railroads from three to four 

 per cent, enacted by this legislature, is sometimes included among the Granger laws. 



4 Wisconsin State Grange, Proceedings, iii (January, 1875). 



5 Senate Journal, 1875, P- 2 7- 



6 Nation, xviii. 308 (May 14, 1874); Industrial Age, May 2, 1874; Maynard, 

 Patrons of Husbandry in Wisconsin (Ms.), 57. 



